The Department of Corrections is required to collect restitution in any case involving anyone “under its supervision,” by garnishing wages or bank deposits.

In practice, they usually collect restitution in the case immediately before them, but not unpaid balances in other cases. In 99 percent of the cases auditors sampled, the state judicial branch also was not adding required interest onto unpaid restitution.

As a result of the audit, the state judicial branch and Department of Corrections agreed to follow the requirements on collecting and distributing restitution, and work together to collect restitution in all cases from those who are incarcerated or on parole.

The state collects an average of about $26 million a year in restitution, including 10,110 cases in the last fiscal year.

Joey Bunch was a reporter for 12 years at The Denver Post before leaving to join The Gazette in Colorado Springs. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry. He likes stories more than reports.

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